Division of Economic
& Workforce Development

The Division of Economic and Workforce Development at Iowa Western Community College works with individuals, communities, and existing and emerging businesses in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties providing services and programs they need to remain competitive and thrive. The division provides services in the areas of economic development, workforce development, and entrepreneurial development.

Download Workforce Development Interview with Bernie Duis

Economic Development

1. Industrial New Jobs Training (260e) (INJTP) - The Iowa New Jobs Training Program provides training dollars from certificates sold by Iowa's community colleges. The certificates are paid for by the diversion of the new employees' payroll withholding tax.


2. Iowa Jobs Training Program (260f) (IJTP) - Iowa Jobs Training Program provides forgivable loans to Iowa businesses to train existing workers. The purpose of the program is to help Iowa businesses become more competitive by providing the resources to maximize the skills and productivity of their workers.


3. Community Economic Development Assistance - Iowa Western Community College works closely with local economic development interests to facilitate and add value to local economic development.


4. Customized Training - Iowa Western Community College delivers customized training and consulting services to area businesses, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations. The office of Economic Development provides the varied types of training sought by today's small and large businesses including:
   • Customized Courses and instructional packages
   • Training needs assessment
   • Flexible scheduling to meet your operation or production schedule
   • Training offered at your facility, at the IWCC Council Bluffs campus, the Clarinda campus, or at any of our centers in Atlantic, Shenandoah, or Harlan
   • Experienced professional trainers
   • Cost-effective and customer-oriented services
   • Training in five core areas: Health & Safety, Industrial/Technical, Management/Supervision, Computer Skills, and Basic Skills.

Iowa Western Workforce Development

Workforce Development delivers the programs created by the federal Workforce Investment Act. The program provides employment and training activities for low income adults and youth, as well as dislocated workers.

Workforce Development also administers the PROMISE JOBS program, providing employment and training services to Family Investment Program recipients. The program helps recipients comply with their Family Investment Agreement, which outlines a plan to move from welfare to self-sufficiency.

Workforce Development maintains offices in Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Harlan and Shenandoah.

Iowa Western Entrepreneurial Center

The Entrepreneurial Center includes the Iowa Western Small Business Development Center and the Office of Entrepreneurial Education & Training. These programs promote entrepreneurial thinking, support area entrepreneurs and student business ventures, raise public awareness about the vital role of the entrepreneur in the economy, and make academic contributions to our understanding of entrepreneurship and economic progress. Specific objectives include:

1. Community Action - Helping to build community infrastructure and community involvement that will support entrepreneurship.


2. Entrepreneurial Coaching - Providing advanced training and counseling services for start-ups and existing companies.


3. Entrepreneurial Education - Encouraging, supporting, and facilitating entrepreneurial classroom experiences in all levels of education in the communities served.